Typewriters



Feb. 28, 1961 R. HENATSCH 2,973,079

TYPEWRITERS Filed March 12, 1958 2 Sheets Sheet 1 fif INVENTOR.

1951 R. HENATSCH 2,973,079

TYPEWRITERS Filed March 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRI RY VOL GE SOURCE@Mu IN VEN TOR.

TYPEWRITERS Reynold Henatsch, 300 E. 61st St., New York, NY.

Filed Mar. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 72ti,852

Claims. (Cl. 197-19) This invention relates to improvement intypewriters and particularly to improvement in keyboards of electrictypewriters, since in these some of the limitations necessitated bymechanical operation are now removed.

The forerunner of the present-day typewriter is generally conceded to bea machine patented by C. L. Sholes in 1868. The keyboard which wasdeemed adequate by Mr. Sholes at that time was one which best suited themechanical requirements of the machine. The idea of using all of thefingers and having certain keys allotted to certain fingers and thosealone did not occur to Mr. Sholes at the beginning and his concern waschiefly with mechanical difiiculties, such as jamming and sticking oftype-bars.

When schools began teaching whatis commonly known as the touch systemsome ten or fifteen years later, it necessitated adjustment of the humananatomy to the mechanism which already existed. In more than eightyyears since the machine was invented there has been little or noimprovement in the keyboard to make it more suitable for the structureof the human hand and the entire trend has been toward standardization.

After having used a typewriter for more than forty years under theseunfavorable conditions, it is my firm belief that standardization iswrong since the human beings who are required to use the machines arefar from being standardized. For instance, a man, whose hands areone-half again as large as the average womans is obliged to cramp themup on the same keyboard which is designed primarily for use by womenusers. Since even the fingers of the same hand are not of the samelength and strength, it is illogical to have all of the keys aligned inhorizontal rows and at the same level. Furthermore, when the two handsare identical, except in reverse, why should the keys for the left handbe in a different arrangement from those for the right hand whenmechanical features which necessitated such an arrangement no longerexist? I believe a method of manufacture in which the keyboard isprovided as a separate detachable unit is a practical means ofovercoming a stalemate which has existed since the typewriter wasinvented. By supplying multiple such units made according to differentspecifications and which are interchangeable on the same basictypewriter, individual operators would be benefitted and at the sametime the manufacturers would not be taking chances with reformedtypewriters which might not sell. By mutual agreement amongmanufacturers to adopt a certain standard inthe basic machine, suchseparate keyboards could evenbe made to be interchangeable among variousbrands of typewriters. Each typist could maintain her own keyboard, justas she prefers to have it, which could be taken from job to job andattached to any basic typewriter constructed to receive it. Anothertypical advantage might be cited in .a family typewriter in which aseparate keyboard is provided to suit the mother, another to suit thefather who has larger hands, and a third to suit a growing son ordaughter being taught a re- 2,973,079 Patented Feb. as, test.

2 formed system in which the characters are more scientifically allottedto the keys, all three keyboards being interchangeable in the matter ofseconds.

My main object is to provide operators with a choice of keyboards, sothat they may select one best suited for their own personal requirementsand preferences instead of forcing them to use one standard keyboardwhich is commonly referred to as the universal keyboard, and to disclosea method by which a stalemate of approximately eighty years standing canbe broken by teaching manufacturers how improved keyboards can be madeavailable to those who want them, without seriously disrupting thetypewriter manufacturing indus-' try and with no inconvenience tooperators.

More specifically, my objects are:

To enable operators to maintain personalized keyboards, constructedaccording to their preference, which can be easily and quicklytransferred from typewriter to typewriter as occasion demands.

To provide separately constructed keyboards giving each operator achoice of the kind of key construction he or she prefers. This wouldgive preference as to individual key characteristics, such as shape ofkey-head, stiffness of spring action and variation in the height ofvarious keys to suit the various fingers of the same hand.

To provide separately constructed keyboards to give the operator achoice of the one best suited for the size of his or her hands.

To provide separately constructed keyboards giving a choice of the onepreferred as to position of keys on the keyboard, since such positionneed no longer be limited by front-to-back arrangement of thekey-levers, as heretofore. This would offer the operator a choice of akeyboard in which the keys are positioned more scientifically accordingto the anatomy of the hand. sired, a keyboard could be selected in whichthe keys allotted to the left hand are as suitably positioned as thosefor the right hand. If preferred, the operator might select a keyboardin which the keys are positioned according to the length of the variousfingers of the same hand, instead of being forced to use a keyboard inwhich the keys are positioned in straight horizontal rows.

To provide separately constructed keyboards giving a choice ofarrangement of letters and characters on the key-heads.

To teach a method of construction in which separate keyboards providedwith key-action independent of that of key-levers, would make possiblean arrangement of; type-bars not dependent on the key arrangement aswell. as an arrangement of keys not dependent on arrangewhich best suitstheirneeds and preference.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of the front ofan electric typewriter showing the headless ends of the key-leversprotruding upward through a sunken panel.

This is what is referred to as the basic typewriter.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a typical separate panel capable ofbeing attached to the basic typewriter If dea of the separate panelshown in Figure 3, through its approximate center, showing one means oftransmitting a blow on the key to the end of the protruding key-lever.

Figure is a cross-sectional frontview through the ap proximate center ofa similar key which has been adapted with a device for deflecting thepre'ssureto the right side of the key-head. 1

Figure 6 is a plan view of these keys showing. the forked nature of themain supporting spring which retains the key in alignment.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatical plan of the universal keyboard showing howthe keys are allotted to each hand.

Figure 8 is a partial sideview, partly in cross-section, showing atypical type-bar linkage in association with a power roller, aninstallation of electro-magnets to replace the customary key-levers anda keyboard panel which is partly detached.

Figure 9 is a bottomside perspective view of a detached keyboard panelshowing two typical individual key mechanisms wired to contact pointsalong one edge.

Since my disclosure is an attempt to destandardize a practice which hasbeen standard for a long period and its purpose is to make choicesavailable to operators rather than limit them to a set practice, it willbe seen that its merit lies in its general conception rather than in thenovelty or patentability of some specific device, arrangement of keys orallotment of letters and characters to the keys. To give a clearerunderstanding of the conception, a more detailed description of theobjects is given.

Perhaps the greatest objection to the keyboard which was adopted inearly typewriters for mechanical reasons is the fact that keys allottedto the left hand fall into quite a different arrangement from thoseallotted to the right hand, as may be seen by referring to Figure 7.Diagonal rows of keys are assigned quite naturally to the right hand 2,two rows being alotted to the index finger. Although the left hand 3extends from the elbow in the opposite direction from the right, thediagonal rows continue at the same angle as for the right hand and donot fall naturally beneath the fingers.

. Being required to perform at practically the same time a different setof motions for each hand is in itself a cause for nervous fatigue. Thediagonal rows of keys controlled by fingers of the right hand fall quitenaturally under the fingers as they have their greatest flexibility ofmovement, giving the right hand a natural feeling of orientation whenthe little fingeris lightly poised on its guide-key. The naturallyweaker left-hand, however, is assigned to keys which do not fallnaturally within the scope of thegreatest flexibility of its fingers.

For example, in my hand the finger next to the little finger'is 1"longer and the middle finger is 1 /2" longer than the little finger, yetI am expected to strike the same blow with each finger while the hand ispoised over three keys which are side by side in a horizontal row. Inorder to retain the little finger on its guide key I nave to curvethecenter fingers so much I strike on the nail insteadof on the fleshytip of the finger. Since the index finger, too, is shorter than thecenter fingers and is obligedto control two diagonal rows of keys, it isretained in a more or less stretched out position and uses a difierenttype of muscular action from that required of the center fingers.

This cramped unnatural position is one of the greatest factors causingfatigue in typewriting. In addition to physical fatigue, mental fatigueresults from having to constantly check the position of the hand due tothe fact that the keys do not lie in a natural position. Even a minorchange, such' as slightly lowering from the straight. horizontal row theposition of the guide-keys, would eliminate the need for keeping therest of the fingers of each hand in a cramped position to retain themover the straighthorizontal row; When control'of keys remains allottedto the same fingers, ,a slightly different 2,978,079 7 e p v m 4position for a key could be easily mastered, especially if it broughtwelcome relief from strain.

A recently publicized keyboard reform, Patent 2,040,- 248, in whichletters are more scientifically allotted to keys according to theirfrequency of use, etc., has not been generally adopted. It is my beliefthat this has resulted from two factors which I have tried to overcomein my disclosure. The first is the general opposition to a re form whichwould inconvenience operators accustomed to the universal keyboardthrough long usage and the second is the fact that the novelty lay onlyin the ar rangernent of the letters and not inrepositioning of the keysto avoid fatigue. I have purposely conceived a method by which a gradualtransition could be achieved, during which period no operators need beinconvenienced.

At first only a limited number of keyboards need be offered to those whowant them, designed according to more scientific specifications andveteran, typists need notice no change except when their attentionhad'been called to the fact that their keyboard had been madedetachable. After a campaign offering personalized keyboards andeducating the public to their advantages, the number ofreformedkeyboards could be increased until only an ever decreasingnumber of veterans need be sup plied with the outmoded universalkeyboard.

in a separate application I am disclosing how the use of key-levers canbe eliminated and keyboards made to be easily detachable from thetypewriter. In Figures 8 and 9 of the present application I illustratehow easily multiple detachable keyboards of varying specifications anddesigns Could be made to be interchangeable on the same basic typewriterwhen key-levers are eliminated as I disclose in my other application. Itis necessary only to wire the individual key mechanisms on the separatepanel to the contact eiement on the edge which will coincide with thecorresponding contact element on the basic typewriter. This disclosurepermits a far greater flexibility in both the position of the keys andallocation of character symbols to the keys than is practical when useof key-levers is retained.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen how the keys 1 can bemounted on the separate panel 13 which lifts right off of the basictypewriter 10. The ends of the key-levers 11 are shown protruding upwardthrough a perforated plate 12 although it is not absolutely necessaryand any simple means such as friction catches 7 can be used to retainthe panel in position on the typewriter.

To illustrate how my concept is made practical by the small amount ofpressure required on the key-levers and the small amount of depressionnecessary when striking a'key, a sideview of a typical type-bar linkagein relation to a power-roller is shown in Figure 3, as it appears in acomparatively recent model of an IBM electric typewriter. When thekey-lever 11 is depressed slightly, cam 16 having a serrated edge 55 asshown, is revolved about its axis 9 in a clockwise direction. Thisbrings the serrate-d edge into contact with the constantly movingpowerroller 19 which is driven by a motor not shown. Since the roller ismoving in a counter-clockwise direction and axis 9 is attached tosub-lever 17, the cam, in being forced in aclockwise direction by theroller, carries axis, 9 with it, which causes sub-lever 17 to revolve ina clockwise direction around its axis 8 which is a stationary rodextending across the typewriter, to which all similar typebar linkagesare attached.

Because of the flexible nature of link 6 and the 0&- center location ofaxis 20, the type-bar 18 is forced into free-flight which causesit tostrike a blow of the necessary force to do the printing.

By referring to Figure 4, it will be seen how a keymechanism withsufficient rebounding action can be selfi contained within the separatepanel. The base of the key-head 21, having a cone-shaped indentation 28in its center, is securely attached to attaching-sprifig-ZZ which hooksonto. panel 13. The plan-view shown in Figure 6 shows the forked natureof spring 22 designed to retain the key-head normally in horizontalposition but permitting some sidewise resilience. A hollow key-headshell 24 containing a resilient member such as a resilient pad or acoiled spring 23 as shown, is clamped over the base 21 and the spring 23forces the shell upward as far as stops 29 inside the shell permit.

The separate key-stem 25, constructed with a coneshaped top 26, a collar27 in its central portion and a base 32 of relatively wider area, isretained .in upright position 30 which rests on a horizontal base 31with an opening 35 in its central portion through which the base 32 andthe lower portion of the key-stem 25 protrude to make contact withkey-lever 11 on the basic typewriter. Since the keyboard panel 13 isnormally at a slant for the convenience of operators, base 31 isdesigned to retain the key-stem 25 in upright position. It will beobserved that the detached key-stem and hollow key-head are designed togive the key what might be termed a floating action. This is desirablesince one complaint about electric typewriters has been the fact thatthe keyboard has a dead feel which results from the slight depressionand small amount of pressure required. In my disclosure, in addition tobeing spring-attached to the panel, spring action is provided in thestem and when that is exhausted, still further resilience is left in thekeyhead since the shells relation to the base 21 is not fixed.

While the key is normally kept in horizontal position, it will be seenthat the pivotal nature of the key-stem, in relation to the key-head,cushions a glancing blow which is struck on the side of a key in rapidtyping, allowing the key-head to give slightly while still transmittingenough force to provide the slight pressure needed. It will also be seenthat after the necessary contact with the key-lever has been made, thereis still plenty of resilience in the key-head to give a finger thenecessary rebound which aids it to recover after a blow'to inducerhythmical typing which reduces fatigue.

It is to be understood that this conception does not change any of thebasic typewriter, except omitting the key-heads and providing means forattachment of the separate panels to the frame. Since the usualrebounding action is still provided in the key-levers, less action wouldhave to be built into the separate panels. That would be a matter inwhich the operator could be given a choice. Many would welcome asupplemental action which would cushion the blow, however it may bestruck, and yet afford a firm bottom to the stroke to assist the fingerin its recovery from the blow.

No problem would be involved in providing certain keys at diirerentheights and Figure 4 illustrates how the slight pressure can betransmitted even though the keyhead is not directly above the key-lever.Figure 5 illustrates how the force of the blow can be diverted when thekey-head is moved to the left of the normal position of the key-lever.In this case a small wheel 34, dmigned to reduce friction, is mounted onthe side of the keystcm 25 and the base 32 is attached on the end of asuitably shaped lever vE53 which is springably attached to panel 13.

To illustrate how still greater flexibility is achieved by substitutingelectro-m agnets for the key-levers in the basic typewriter, twodrawings are included from another application i am making to claim sucha combination in an electric typewriter. While the slight change whichmakes multiple panels interchangeable appears in Figure 9, I haveincluded Figure 8 to give a brief description or the mechanism whichmakes the change possible. Although the type-bar linkage in connectionwith the powerroller remains practically the same, a series ofelectromagnets 41 one for each type-bar or other operation, is

installed in a convenient location in relation to the typebar linkages.When an electro-magnet 40 is energized by being brought into theelectric circuit, armature arm 41 is attracted to the magnet. This pullsdown operationrod 42 which is in loose contact with cam 16, causing theserrated edge 55 of the cam to be brought into con tact with thepower-roller 19 which takes over the operation from there, to producethe striking blow or the typebar in the usual manner. Eachelectro-magnet is wired to a contact element 45 which is situated on astrip located in the front of the machine for easy access to the panel.A contacting plate 46 is situated directly beneath the location of thepanel and this is wired to the circuit.

Referring now to Figure 9, key mechanism housings 47 are seen attachedto the underside of the panel. When a key is depressed, its contactor 73touches plate 46 thereby completing a circuit which energizes theelectromagnet for that key. In Figure 9 it will be seen' how almostunlimited flexibility may be had by use of flexible wiring in connectingthe key-mechanisms on the panel to the proper contacting element 50 onthe edge of'the panel. The extent of this flexibility is made still moreevident when consideration is given to the fact that in Mr. Sholesoriginal model the location of the keys was further restricted by theuse of wooden slats which were used as key-levers. Besides permittingfreedom in location of the keys on the panel, this disclosure permitsuse of different typewriting methods, such as the Dvorak, whichallocates the characters to different fingers than the universal, andyet multiple panels all diff fering in construction could be operated onthe same basic typewriter.

The chief concern of this invention is not to show how a typewriter canbe built so that various parts work to gether with a greater precision,which achievement lies within the range of a skilled mechanics ability,but rather to teach how it may be built so that there may be a greaterdegree of smooth co-operation between the machine and the operator inorder to produce work with greater speed, ease, accuracy and'efficiency.By combining the component elements of the typewriter as I do, a resultis achieved which is far greater than the actual mechanicalco-operatioin of such elements. I disclose a practical way to eliminatethe inflexibility of the universal keyboard after it has a factordeterring progress for many years.

From this very nature of my invention which teaches de-standardizationwhere standardization has become firmly entrenched and which oifers achoice to operators, it will be seen that adequate protection is notafforded by a patent merely covering the apparatus which is disclosed.In order to substantiate my claim for a method covering such a procedurein the manufacture of typewriters, I am disclosing two distinctlydifferent ways in which multiple keyboards can be offered to thepublicone which solves the problem by mechanical means and the other byelectrical means.

Because it shows how the concept of multiple keyboards can be put intopractice with very little change in the electric typewriter as it isbeing built today, I have used the mechanical means as my firstdisclosure. However, because it makes possible a far greater degree offlexibility in the keyboard, the electric method shown in Figures 8 and9 may be considered as the best mode contemplated. The appended claimsare intended to cover all modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of this teaching.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with an electric typewriter having type-bars andother functional instrumentalities linked with mechanisms which activateand control them when placed in contact with a motor-driven roller bymanual force applied on keys associated with the mechanisms; ofseparate, detachable, interchangeable panels of varying specificationsand designs, in which keys are springably mounted with an action whichis self-contained within the panel instead of being mounted onkey-levers attachedto the typewriter as is the well-known practice inthe art and one panel varying from another panel in aaraore order toofier to operators a choice of the one best suited for theirrequirements; means for quickly and easily attaching said panels to thetypewriter alternately; and means fortransmitting manual force appliedon a key to the mechanism on the typewriter with which that key isassociated, regardless of the location of the key on the panel.

2. The same as claim 1, each key, which is disposed adjacent to anopening in a panel, comprising a key-head, a stem having an upperextremity and a lower extremity and an attaching-spring, the key-headbeing resiliently supported on the attaching-spring and the key-stemhaving its lower extremity springably supported by the panel andretained in alignment with an opening while having its upper extremityheld in upright alignment by the attaching-spring.

3. The same as claim 1, each key, which is constructed to be maintainedin proper position on a panel which tilts slightly upward from theoperator in the customary manner, comprising, in combination; anattaching-s iring to which is secured a flat member conforming to theshape of the key desired and having a cone-shaped indentation in itscentral portion, a hollow shell in the shape of the key-head desired andhaving stops placed in its interior adjacent to its lower edge, fittingover said fiat member but bearing no fixed relation thereto; a resilientmember such as a coiled spring within the shell which urges it upwarduntil said stops placed within the shell come in contact with the fiatmember to stop further progress; a supporting base in which an openingis centrally located and which is constructed and arranged to retain thekey in upright position on the tilted panel; a key-stem which passesthrough the opening in the base and has a cone-shaped upper extremity, alower extremity which broadens into a relatively greater area after itpasses through the opening in the base and a collar in its centralportion, and a resilient member interposed be tween the collar on thestem and said supporting base in a manner which holds the stem incentral alignment with the cone-shaped indentation in the fiat membersecured to the attaching-spring, whereby a cushioned key-action isprovided to the operator.

4. The combination with an electric typewriter having type-bars andother functional instrumentalities linked with mechanisms which activateand control them when placed in contact with. a motor-driven roller bymanual force applied on key-levers, having no key-heads, whichare-associated with the mechanisms, of separate, detachable,interchangeable panels of varying specifications and designs; in whichkey-heads are springably mounted for action instead of being mounted onkey-levers attached to the typewriter, as is the well-known practice inthe art; means for quickly and easily attaching the panels to thetypewriter alternately; and means for transmitting manual force appliedon a key-head to the mechanism on the typewriter with which thatkey-head is associated, regardless of the location of the key-head onthe panel in relation to the mechanism which it controls, said means fortransmission comprising a mechanism which is constructed and arranged toestablish physical contact between the key which is located on the paneland the headless keylever which is embodiedin the typewriter in order todepress the key-lever the small amount necessary to activate thetype-bar or other function with which it is associated.

5. The combination with an electric typewriter having type-bars andother functional instrumentalities linked with mechanisms which activateand control them when placed in contact with a motor-driven roller byelectromagnetic devices which are controlled by means of keys located ona keyboard panel, of separate, detachable, interchangeable panels onvarying specifications and designs, in which key-heads are springablymounted for action instead of being mounted on the key-levers attachedto the typewriter, which is the well-known practice in the art; meansfor quickly and easily attaching the panels to the typewriteralternately and means for transmitting manual force applied on akey-head to the mechanism on the typewriter with which that key-head isassociated, said means for transmission being capable of establishingelectrical connection between the keys and the electro-magnetic deviceswhich they control and constructed in two sections and arranged so as topermit detachment of the keyboard panels from the typewriter in a simpleoperation which simultaneously parts the sections of all theconnections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,105,731 Graves et a1. Jan. 18, 1938

